Still, it’s very impressive and certainly worthy of a public pat on the back.

Lombardi turns 46 Saturday and ran his first race in September of 1977 and “I’ve pretty much been at it ever since,” he says.

“I’ve been running 30-some-odd years, and I’ve never really been injured the entire time. I’ve been really lucky. I think the biggest factor is that I’ve been fairly consistent in running all that time. I don’t really stretch or do any exercises. I pretty much just run.”

And throughout those 30 years, the 1986 Springfield College graduate has been running at a high level. The Palmer native was inducted into the Northeast 10 Conference Hall of Fame three years ago, twice winning the league’s biggest cross country race.

Even now, in his mid-40s, Lombardi has been able to maintain a high standard.

“This year, I’ve actually been able to run my fastest times for both the 5K and 5 miles since I turned 40,” said the resident of Southington, Conn., who spends his summers at his house in Brimfield. “And I’ve upped my mileage. Since August I’ve been averaging 70-80 miles a week. Last week I ran almost 85 miles. I haven’t slowed down. Clearly I’m off my PRs when I was in my 20s and in my college days, but I’ve found I can continue to run pretty fast. I continue to think I can get faster here each year.”

Lombardi was sure fast in 2009. He helped the Greater Springfield Harriers win the USA Track & Field-New England Cross Country Club title in the masters division for the second year in a row, was part of the Harriers team that placed sixth at the national club championship meet in Kentucky, and finished second in the 45-49 age group at the USATF 5K National Masters Championship.

“Clearly, when you get older you have to have a different approach,” said Lombardi, who topped a field of 109 runners Saturday at the Snowstorm Classic 5K at Springfield’s Forest Park in 18 minutes, 36 minutes. “When I was younger, I could run as hard as I wanted as often as I wanted. What I’ve learned over the last five years is that I can either run a lot of miles in a week, or I can run hard, but I can’t do both.”

Lombardi plans to run in the upcoming All-Comer Track Meets at Smith College, where he will focus on the 3K.

“I’m hoping to run around a 9:20,” he said.

Anyone else jealous?

INDOOR TRACK: The Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club will again host the All-Comer Track Meets at Smith College. The three-meet series begins Sunday, with the final two on Jan. 17 and Jan. 24. Starting time is 5 p.m. For more information, go to www.sugarloafmac.org.

GORDY GOING ORANGE: In honor of Gordon Bates, the second annual Gordon Bates First Race elected to hand out orange winter hats instead of the standard T-shirt to its runners. More than 80 people turned out for the New Year’s Day race in Westfield, which had a 5K and 10K course.

“Gordy was well known for wearing an orange hunting cap and used to wear it frequently to races he directed,” race director Mike Sheldon said. “So we decided that most runners already had enough T-shirts. His family was pleased with the choice.”

RESULTS: High school students Leah Haake of Amherst and Carolyn Stocker of Westfield crossed the finish line together Saturday at the Snowstorm Classic, covering the 5K course in 21:05 ... Leverett’s Drew Best (34:12) and Charlestown’s Kimberly Owen (42:06) won the Sawmill River 10K Run Friday in Montague Center. The race drew 103 competitors.